Spinning top



N09. 29,. 1932. THOMAS IARABIJO MARMITO 1,889,680

SPINNING TOP Filed Oct.' 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 11 men tor 1720mm flm l b Alarm/7a.

attorneys THOMAS ARABLJO MAQRMITO 1,889,680 I ssss N'ING TOP FiledOct. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III) Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED "STATES;

THOMAS ARAIBIJO mamrro, or NEW Yomgn. Y.

, SPINNI G 'ror' Application filed 'ct0ber'24, 1931. Serial No. 570,918. i

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in game apparatus and method of playing the same.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus requiring skill in the playing thereof and providing healthful exercise to the participants. e

A further object of the invention isto provide game apparatus wherein theacces'sorie's include a novel form of spinning top, the game when played indoorsbeing confined within an arena, inclosure or court of novel construction for the protection of spectators. r With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood,'the same consists in the novelform, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed. j

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inclosure or court in which the game is played, showing the enclosing wall structuresurmounted by a screened frame, the spinning plate and the pitchers plate;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the spinning plate for the top,

Figure 3 is aside elevatlonal View of the novel form of top with the spinning cord wound thereon and illustrated as being of gradually increasing diameter Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the top, showing a spinning peg in the upper and lower ends thereof with the anchor groove or shoulder for the spinning cord;

Figure 5 is a side elevatlonal view of the top in inverted positionas shown in F igure 3,

i with the spinning cord'wound upon the same endof the top; V V,

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the top in inverted form as illustrated in Figure 5; and r Figure 7 is a perspective view of the dipper employed for transporting the top during the playing ofrthe game. V

The game is adapted to be playedindoors or outdoors, and when played indoors, the game is confined within an enclosure or court,

such as illustrated in Figure 1, although it side and end walls 11 and 13 with the 015- is to be understood that such a court structure may be resorted to when the same is played outdoors with the court surrounded by a grandstand or seating arrangement 10.

The court includes sidewalls 11 and end walls 12 and 13 and'entrance to the court is by Way of the gate openings 14 in the side and end walls 11 and 13,'each gate opening 14 facing a guard wall 15 inwardly of the 0 posite ends thereof curved as at 16fand rected toward the side and end walls, but spaced therefrom to permit the. entry and exit of the players of the game. To guard the spectators, a superposed screen" frame is mounted upon the side and end walls of the court and preferably includes a rod frame structure 17 carrying a" net of'screen 18, while screen sections 19 inclined as'illustrated extend from the upper edges of the guard walls 15'to the upper sides of the screened frame 17. n i V Spinning tops are used in the playing of, the game and as shown in Figures 1and2, a plate 20 upon which the tops-are adapted to be spun is set into'the ground within the court, spinning tops being represented upon a the plate 20 by the reference numeral 21 The spinning plate 20 maybe constructed of ,7

, any suitable'material, such as hard rubber or the like, a second plate 22 being positioned within the court adjacent the'end wall 13 to be known as the pitchers plate. The game may be playedby two persons, or two teams 1 comprising the same number ofplayers, one 5 player or. team preferably using the side gate ofthe court while the other player or team use the end gate. In the playing of the game, the members of one team enter through a the side gate andsp'in their topsupon the plate 20 and thereafter withdraw to a safe distance or make their exit through the side gate to stand within the guard wall 15 and view the proceedings. The members of the 1 other team stand upon the pitching plate 22 and the object of the game is for each player upon the pitching plate 22 to strike one of the spinning tops 21 to remove the same from the spinning plate 20 and possible, either stop the top'21 from spinning or to' mate-' gains a point.

owner thereof, in the event that the top "21 continues to spin, uses the dipper 23 shown in Figure 7 for raising the top from the ground and he may'carrythe spinning top upon the dipper to a safe position where the same will not be struck by a thrown top of a player on the opposing team, while the player who has dislodged the top 21 from the spinning plate20also transports his top in a dipper 23 and the top which spins the longest Wins a point in the game score.

An improved form of spinning topand spinning cordassociated therewith is illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, thedesign of this top permitting the same to spin for at least ten to fifteen minutes whenthrown by an experienced player, the top being double ended with the spinning cord adaptedto be wound upon one end only While the top may be spun upon either end. The top 21\ com prises a body portion 24, the diameter of which is substantially equal to the height of the top so as to position the center ofgravity substantially midway. opposite ends of the top. From the transverse center line of the top,

' the body portion 24 gracefully tapers. as at 25 and 26 in opposite directions toprovide opposite cone ends 27 and 28 with aspinning peg 29 anchored in each end 27 and 28 and retained therein by barbs 30, only a relatively short section of the spinning peg 29 projecting outwardly of the conicalends 27 and 28. The tapering side 25 of the body portion of the top 24 adjacent the conical end 27 is provided with an annular depression 31 defining an abutment shoulder 32 to receive one end of the top spinning cord 33 which acts to prevent the wound cord from slippingupon' the body of thetop. 'The end of the topooutwardly of thedepression 31 is annularly enlarged to compensate for the cut-away portion forming the depression and acts to balance the top and locate the center of gravity substantially midway theends of the top to increase the spinning period of the top." The winding cord 33 as illustrated in Figure 3 is of gradually increasing diameter throughout 7 the length thereof, the smaller end being wound upon the tapering side '25 of the top body,

while the free larger end'thereof is looped as at 34 to providea finger grip. The spinning cord 33 is always wound upon the same end of the top body 24, the smaller end of the cord being first placed in the groove'31in en gagement with the abutment shoulder 32 and the winding cord is of alength to have the convolutions thereof when wound on thetop body to'be placed substantially midway the theform of top disclosed, increased velocity is imparted to the spinning movement of the top,"further enhanced by the balanced top having its center of gravity located substantially'midway its ends.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it'is believed that the construction of the apparatus and accessories as Well as the method of playing the game will at once be apparent. Although no specific dimensions of the playing field defined by the court wall-haveherein been mentioned, it is to be understood that the area of the playing field must be such that the pitching plate may be spaced from the" spinning plate a suiiicient distance torequire skill by the player throwingthe top missile toward a spinning top on the spinning plate to strike the same and that the area of the playing field must be such thatopponents of the two teams may move freely over the field in' approaching their spinning tops to raise the same upon the clippers.

While thereis herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is neverthelessto be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and'scope of theinvention as claimed.

I claim a 1. 'A device comprising a spinning top having a spinning peg at opposite ends with (opposite ends of the toptapered and the'transverse diameter of the top being substantially equal to the height of the top, a weight provided integrally at one of said ends for keeping the device upright when beingspun and tapering mean's'for spinning said top. 2. A device comprising a'spinning top'having a spinning peg at opposite ends, the side wall of the top adj acentone end being annularly grooved to provide an abutment shoulderfor-a spinning cord, and said spinning cord being of gradually increasing diameter in the direction of length thereof withthe smaller end of the cord initially wound on the top 'for increased gripping action and to impart increased velocity to the spinning, of the top. I

3. A cord for spinninga top, said cord be ing tapered gradually from one en'dito the other, the smaller end beinginitially' wound on the top. j i a In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' THOMAS A ABI MABMITO. H 

